Running deck with endless slat belt for treadmill and endless slat belt for same

ABSTRACT

A running deck includes a frame defining two opposing sliding surfaces, and an endless slat belt including a plurality of slats and two chains interconnecting the slats and rotatably mounted around the frame. Each slat includes an inner surface facing toward the sliding surfaces. Each chain includes a plurality of chain links pivotally connected to one another and respectively joined to the respective inner surfaces of the slats, and a plurality of rollers respectively pivotally mounted in the chain links and rotatably movable along one respective sliding surface of the frame. Thus, the endless slat belt is rotatable around the frame, and the running deck has the characteristics of simple structure, light weight, and enhanced overall sense of beauty.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to treadmill technology and more particularly, to a running deck equipped with an endless slat belt for use in a treadmill. The invention relates also to an endless slat belt for the running deck.

2. Description of the Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 8,864,627 discloses a manually operated treadmill adapted to generate electrical power comprising a treadmill frame, a running belt supported upon the treadmill frame and adapted for manual rotation, and an electrical power generator mechanically interconnected to the running belt and adapted to convert the manual rotational motion of the running belt into electrical power. However, due to the use of interconnecting members to interconnect belt components of the running belt and the arrangement of rollers in the treadmill frame, this design of treadmill has the drawbacks of having a large amount of component parts and a complicated structure.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, Taiwan Patent M404030 discloses a treadmill, which comprises a support frame 11, two turntables 12 pivotally mounted in the support frame 11 and respectively disposed adjacent to opposing front and rear sides thereof, and an endless slat belt 13 mounted around the two turntables 12. The support frame comprises two reinforcing ribs 111 located at the top side thereof. The endless slat belt 13 comprises a plurality of slats 131, a plurality of links 132 respectively pivotally connected between one respective end edge of each of two adjacent slats 131 at each of two opposite lateral sides, a plurality of rollers 133 respectively pivotally connected to the respective ends of each two adjacent links 132, and a plurality of screw bolts 134 respectively and pivotally connecting the respective rollers 133 and the respective pair of links 132 to the respective slats 131.

When the endless slat belt 13 is driven to rotate by an external force, the rollers 133 can be smoothly and rotatably moved along the reinforcing ribs 111. Subject to meshing engagement relationship between the turntables 12 and the endless slat belt 13, the endless slat belt 13 can be smoothly rotated around the turntables 12. Thus, the rollers 133 and the links 132 are interconnected to the slats 131, achieving a streamline configuration.

However, in the aforesaid prior art designs, since the rollers 133 and the links 132 are interconnected to the respective opposite end edges of the slats 131, two large spaces must be respectively provided between the two opposite inner sides of the support frame 11 and the end edges of the slats 131 for accommodating the rollers 133 and the links 132 without interfering with their movement. Thus, a large clearance d is left between each end edge of each slat 131 and the support frame 11, making the overall appearance of the treadmill less aesthetically pleasing. Further, in order to mount the screw bolts 134, the thickness t of the slats 131 must be relatively thick, and thus, the thickness and weight of the slats 131 cannot be minimized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed in view of the above identified circumstances. It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a running deck with an endless slat belt for a treadmill, which minimizes the thickness and weight of the slats of the endless slat belt thereof and has the characteristics of a simple structure with reduced thickness, light weight, and enhanced overall sense of beauty.

To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a running deck comprises a frame and an endless slat belt. The frame comprises a plurality of opposing sliding surfaces. The endless slat belt is rotatably mounted around the frame, comprising a plurality of slats, and two chains interconnecting the slats. Each slat comprises an inner surface facing toward the sliding surfaces. Each chain comprises a plurality of chain links pivotally connected to one another and respectively joined to the respective inner surfaces of the slats, and a plurality of rollers respectively pivotally mounted in the chain links and rotatably movable along one respective sliding surface.

Subject to the arrangement of the chains on the inner surfaces of the slats to interconnect the slats and to slide along the sliding surfaces of the frame, the endless slat belt can be smoothly rotated around the frame, and thus, the running deck has the characteristics of simple structure, light weight and enhanced overall sense of beauty.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will be fully understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs denote like components of structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a part of a treadmill disclosed in Taiwan Patent M404030.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a part of the treadmill disclosed in Taiwan Patent M404030.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a running deck for treadmill in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a part of the endless slat belt of the running deck in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an oblique top elevational assembly view of the running deck in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional side view of the running deck in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional end view of the running deck in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a running deck for treadmill in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional side view of the running deck in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a running deck with a slat belt for a treadmill in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The running deck comprises a frame 2, an endless slat belt 3, and an ornamental holder shell 4.

The frame 2 comprises two opposite side panels 21 spaced from each other at a distance, and a plurality of connection rods 22 connected between the two side panels 21. Each side panel 21 defines a sliding surface 211 around the periphery thereof.

The endless slat belt 3 is rotatably mounted around the frame 2, comprising a plurality of slats 31 and two chains 32 interconnecting the slats 31. Each slat 31 comprises an inner surface 311 facing toward the sliding surfaces 211 of the frame 2, two opposing end edges 312, and two mounting zones 313 defined on the inner surface 311 and respectively abutted to the two end edges 312. Each chain 32 comprises a plurality of interconnected chain links 321, and a plurality of rollers 322 respectively pivotally mounted in the chain links 321 and rotatably supported on one respective sliding surface 211 of the frame 2. Each chain link 321 comprises two opposing chain link components 3211 respectively affixed to one mounting zone 313 on the inner surface 311 of one respective slat 31, and two chain hinge components 3212 respectively pivotally connected between the chain link components 3211 of two adjacent chain links 321, e.g., a pin.

The ornamental holder shell 4 comprises two opposite side covers 41 respectively covered over respective outer sides of the side panels 21 of the frame 2, a bottom plate 42 connected between the two side covers 41 at a bottom side and adapted to carry the frame 2, and two top covers 43 respectively connected with the respective top sides of the side covers 41 and respectively disposed adjacent to the end edges 312 of the slats 31 of the endless slat belt 3.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, when the endless slat belt 3 is driven to move by an external force, the chains 32 that are mounted at the inner surfaces 311 of the slats 31 are moved with the rollers 322 thereof along the respective sliding surfaces 211 around the frame 2.

It is to be noted that, in this first embodiment, the endless slat belt 3 is not driven by electric power, and therefore, the aforementioned external force for driving the endless slat belt 3 comes from the treading force when the user runs on the endless slat belt 3, however, this power source is not a limitation.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a running deck with a slat belt for a treadmill in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. This second embodiment is similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with the exceptions as outlined hereinafter.

The frame 2 further comprises two chain wheel sets 23 pivotally coupled between the two side panels 21 at opposing front and rear sides. Each side panel 21 comprises two sliding surfaces 211 located at an inner side thereof at different elevations in a parallel manner. Each chain wheel set 23 comprises two chain wheels 231, and a wheel axle 232 inserted through the chain wheels 231 and the side panels 21 of the frame 2.

The chains 32 of the endless slat belt 3 are respectively mounted on and meshed with the respective chain wheels 231 of the two chain wheel sets 23.

Thus, when the endless slat belt 3 is driven to move by an external force, the chains 32 that are mounted at the inner surfaces 311 of the slats 31 are moved with the rollers 322 thereof along the respective sliding surfaces 211 around the frame 2, and at the same time, the chain wheels 231 are driven to rotate by the chains 32 of the endless slat belt 3.

Through the above description, some of the advantages of the aforesaid first and second embodiments can be summarized as follows:

Subject to the arrangement of the chains 32 on the inner surfaces 311 of the slats 31 to interconnect the slats 31 and to slide along the sliding surfaces 211 of the frame 2, the endless slat belt 3 can be smoothly rotated around the frame 2. It is important that there is no other elements between the end edges 312 of the slats 31 and the side panels 21 of the frame 2, so that the structure of the running deck can be simplified, reducing the weight, and enhancing the overall sense of beauty.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A running deck, comprising: a frame comprising at least two opposing sliding surfaces; and an endless slat belt rotatably mounted around said frame, said endless slat belt comprising a plurality of slats and two chains interconnecting said slats, each said slat comprising an inner surface facing toward said sliding surfaces, each said chain comprising a plurality of chain links pivotally connected to one another and respectively joined to the respective said inner surfaces of said slats and a plurality of rollers respectively pivotally mounted in said chain links and rotatably movable along one respective said sliding surface.
 2. The running deck as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame further comprises two opposing side panels and a plurality of connection rods connected between said two side panels, each said side panel comprising two sliding surfaces located at an inner side thereof at different elevations in a parallel manner.
 3. The running deck as claimed in claim 2, wherein said frame further comprises two chain wheel sets pivotally coupled between said two side panels at opposing front and rear sides, each said chain wheel set comprising two chain wheels and a wheel axle inserted through said chain wheels and said side panels of said frame; said chains of the endless slat belt being respectively mounted on and meshed with the respective said chain wheels of said two chain wheel sets.
 4. The running deck as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame further comprises two opposing side panels and a plurality of connection rods connected between said two side panels, each said side panel comprising a respective sliding surface of the at least two sliding surfaces extending around a periphery thereof.
 5. The running deck as claimed in claim 2, further comprising an ornamental holder shell, said ornamental holder shell comprising two opposite side covers respectively covered over respective outer sides of said side panels of said frame, a bottom plate connected between said two side covers at a bottom side and adapted to carry said frame and two top covers respectively connected with respective top sides of said side covers and respectively disposed adjacent to respective end edges of said slats of said endless slat belt.
 6. The running deck as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said slat further comprises two opposing end edges, and two mounting zones defined on the inner surface thereof and respectively abutted to said two opposing end edges; wherein said chain links of each said chain are respectively joined to one respective said mounting zone.
 7. The running deck as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said chain link of each said chain comprises two opposing chain link components, and two chain hinge components respectively pivotally connected between said two chain link components of two adjacent said chain links; and wherein each said roller is pivotally mounted between said two chain link components of the respective chain link.
 8. An endless slat belt for use in a running deck of a treadmill, said running deck comprising a frame, said frame comprising two opposing sliding surfaces, the endless slat belt comprising: a plurality of slats, each said slat comprising an inner surface facing toward said sliding surfaces of said frame; and two chains interconnecting said slats, each chain comprising a plurality of chain links pivotally connected to one another and respectively joined to the respective inner surfaces of said slats and a plurality of rollers respectively pivotally mounted in said chain links and rotatably movable along one respective said sliding surface.
 9. The endless slat belt as claimed in claim 8, wherein each said slat further comprises two opposing end edges, and two mounting zones defined on the inner surface thereof and respectively abutted to said two opposing end edges; wherein said chain links of each said chain are respectively joined to one respective said mounting zone.
 10. The endless slat belt as claimed in claim 8, wherein each said chain link of each said chain comprises two opposing chain link components, and two chain hinge components respectively pivotally connected between the said two chain link components of two adjacent said chain links; wherein each of said plurality of rollers is pivotally mounted between the said two chain link components of the associating said chain link. 